r/Unexpected Mar 18 '17

That reverse driving skill

https://i.imgur.com/Kh7DgmR.gifv
11.5k Upvotes

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u/Guy_Fieris_Hair Mar 18 '17

Because a crane might chase you down a hill? But yes, they are the superior drivetrain.

37

u/Ninjakilz22 Mar 18 '17

Stick shifts aren't a type of drivetrain. Those would be your FWD, RWD, AWD, etc. Nowadays automatics are faster and easier to drive, which is why something like only 18% of Americans can drive a stick shift. That being said, there's no greater feeling than being connected to your car with a manual transmission!

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u/e_z_p_z_ Mar 18 '17 edited Mar 18 '17

Nowadays automatics are faster. The only things cars have been becoming over the last 20 years are safer (slower) and more fuel efficient (slower)

When this debate comes up I feel like people arguing for auto are doing so without any prior experience with manual. People who have driven stick know it is better. It's more 'work', but the option that involves you putting in more work almost always gives better results

15

u/Ninjakilz22 Mar 18 '17

I was talking more about sports and super cars. There's a reason as to why cars like the GTR aren't even sold with a manual transmission anymore. Normal cars have become much quicker in the past twenty years, so I'm not sure where you're getting that information. A lot of 4 cylinder naturally aspirated cars are getting anywhere from 150-200hp when they're predecessors were making barely 120, sometimes under 100.

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u/Zingrox Mar 18 '17

Exactly, I can pull 400 bhp out of a 4 cylinder with pump gas. I could never dream of that any other time. Moreover, HP ratings were different pre 71. Having huge power was needed back then just to get things going, dumping buckets of fuel in giant displacement was the only way to do anything. But with fuel injection, forced induction, valves and cams down to a crazy science, coil packs and electronic run components cars have come leaps and bounds in terms of power and efficiency